Method and system for creating ad-books

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus and format and form are provided for preparing ad-books or related print or publishing for an organization or organizations or a plethora of organizations over a communications network. The method includes preparing an ads or messages at a user terminal connected to the communications network. The method further includes processing the “ad” or message at a server connected to the communications network for placing the “ad” or message in an “ad-book” or printing or other publication. The method further includes an automated “ad-book” format or form for the soliciting and obtaining ads or messages which provides methods for collecting ad/message pricing, content, layout, billing and information for ad/message for “ad-book” and related printing or publishing. The method, apparatus, format or form are believed particularly useful to assist and consolidate the efforts of non-profit, charity and similar organizations who, though they may differ in many ways, all rely on ad-books and similar print and publications for their fundraising efforts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to what are commonly known as“advertisement books” or more commonly referred to as “ad-books” orprintings or other publications as frequently used by charities andnot-for-profit organizations for fundraising, and more particularly, tothe forms and computerized/automated preparation, production, publishingand management of ad-books and related print or publishing frequentlyused by charities and not-for-profit organizations for fund raising.

2. Related Art.

Advertisement books (hereinafter “ad-books”) and related print orpublications are fundraising vehicles whereby members and supporters ofan organization pay the organization to place an advertisement(hereinafter an “ad”) or message in an organization's publication forthe dual purpose of advertising and contributing to the group.Organizations that may use ad-books include charities, schools, teams,associations, clubs, professional organizations, lodges, unions, boards,fraternities, sisterhoods, causes, hospitals, homes, condo-boards,synagogues, events, community groups, and political parties orcandidates. Typically, an organization will solicit members andsupporters to buy an “ad” or place a message in their “ad-book” orrelated print or publication and either sell or give away the ad-booksor related print or publication as a fundraising tool. As a fundraisingtool, “ad-books” (and related print or publications) are similar togroup fundraisers such as award dinners, car washes, bake-sales,raffles, auctions, golf-outings, or similar events. Each such eventoffers members and supporters an excuse or opportunity to contribute andhelp the organization raise money as well as to participate in or beassociated with an organization. An “ad-book” or related print orpublication also offers the member or supporter the opportunity to berecognized by the organization or participate with a member, family orfriend by being an incidental supporter in an “ad-book” or related printor publication, as opposed to being a “card-carrying” or dues payingmember. Ad-books are often synonymous with or produced along with or inthe faun of dinner-programs, group directories, group calendars,raffles, auction-books, yearbooks, newsletters, or along with othersimple content or events. In this way such print or other publicationoffers sponsorship opportunities for ads, listings, messages or othersupport and at a variety of rates and fees. It should be noted that therate or fee charged in the nature of this not-for-profit sector is moreattuned to the charitable giving, giving history, recognition of thecharitable nature of the giver or of the members or supporters or theneeds of the organization as opposed to the more commercial marketplacewhich places value on circulation and the more direct potentialcommercial results of the advertisement or the product or service.

Although “ad-book” ads or messages are viewed by advertisers as adeductible business expense, the “ad-book” advertisers are primarilymembers or supporters and their primary economic motivation most oftenis to make a contribution to the organization or to be recognized asphilanthropic or to receive a generally positive social recognition asopposed to receiving quality or value for a purchase either of the “ad”or for any particular product or service. In fact, the pricing of an“ad” or message in an “ad-book” is rarely related to the typicaleconomic considerations of a typical advertiser whereby the value oftheir advertisement would be based on the circulation of a givenpublication to the general public or a target market. The “ad-book” inthis case is often not circulated beyond the group itself and is notoften priced based on its circulation. Accordingly, the term “ad-book”and “ad-book advertiser” have meanings that are limited by thenon-for-profit context of their uses herein.

Likewise, the “ad-book” has very little similarity in its content to ageneral circulation commercial publication. Most general circulationpublications have content which is their appeal, and advertising whichsupports the publication's articles and editorial views or subjects. Bycontrast, “ad-books” have primarily ads. And the balance of the contentof an “ad-book” or similar print or publication for an organization isby, for, or about the organization or its mission or charitable ornot-for-profit works, and its members, supporters, or honorees. Inbrief, an “ad-book” for a typical organization focuses inward, on itselfor the organization while a commercial publication typically focusesoutward toward its intended public audience or targeted segment of thepublic.

In this sense, this type of “ad” for an organization's “ad-book” isbased on the advertiser's desire to support the organization (or be seenamong his/her peers as supporting). Often ad-books and related print orpublications are a part of the social or philanthropic fabric of thecharitable or not-for-profit community and allow members, supporters,and donors to be recognized for their contributions by ads or messages.For example, a large and generous donor may be recognized for itscontribution by a prominent full-page, gold-leaf ad, while smallerdonors may be acknowledged for a smaller half page “ad” or message andstill smaller “gifts” or “donations” are priced to receive and providean even smaller “ad” or message of a ⅛^(th) page or business card sizeor even a single line notation. “ad” pricing for ad-books is sometimessynonymous with “gift” or “donation” or similar terms, even though theyare also direct payment for particular ads size and placement.

The “ad-book” may also be seen as a “roll of givers” that acts as adirectory, establishes a pecking-order, and may even pressure others todonate. In this instance the names or recognition of members, supportersor donors to an “ad-book” may be recognized in lists, typically from themost generous to the least. Frequently such lists are broken down intogroupings and/or given honorary names for each level. An example of suchan “ad-book” or printing or publication would include a sequence ofgiving levels such as $1,000-$10,000, $500-$999, $250-$499, $100-$249and under $100. Similarly, an example of names denoting higher levels ofgiving could include Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, etc.Another verbal example of levels is Chairman's Club, President's Club,Board Level or Member. There are numerous other verbal examplecategories of recognition and of giving levels depending widely upon theconstituency of the given organization, its cause and the demographic ofits community, to name just a few factors.

In this sense, ad-books give the advertiser the opportunity to be knownas a benefactor and to help the community recognize its benefactors,great and small. But Ad-books are also believed to encourage giving andto offer a unique opportunity to boost giving or revenue to anorganization beyond just giving, since, though thinly veiled as an ad,such ads can be treated as a business expense for advertising or withmatching gifts, for members or supporters who are advertising, asopposed to other means of contribution to an organization.

The process of putting together an “ad-book” includes gatheringadvertisers, creating ads, collating ads, collecting money, issuingreceipts, performing layout of content and graphics, finding prospectiveprinters, bidding pre-print layout, bidding for printing services,contracting with a printer, proofreading, compiling content, paginationand printing and or publishing and distributing ad-books. Organizationsthat use ad-books as a fundraising vehicle often perform these tasks byorganizing committees of volunteers. Many of these tasks may beperformed by the organization or sent to one or more local businesses,such as graphic designers or printers, to assist with the production ofthe ad-books. In either case, the process is time consuming and verylabor intensive for the organizations that use ad-books or similar printor publications as a fundraising vehicle. Further, since organizationsgenerally do not collaborate or cooperate in their fundraising efforts,the economic benefit that arises from producing ad-books or othersimilar print or publications in large quantities for many differentorganizations is unavailable. Thus, a number of alternative fundraisingways are known and preferred to using ad-books such as holding an annualdinner or auction or event. But because groups or organizations appealto their members on such special occasions and want to recognize theirefforts, honorees or event, the “ad-book” techniques are often employedwithin such other related print or publishing (such as an outing, eventor a dinner program) where “advertisers” are recognized as “sponsors”.The above techniques are well known in the world of associations,not-for-profits, charity educational, and religious organizations, toname a few.

In the field of pure charity, we know of at least one known referencethat describes a method of and device for streamlining, simplifying andinducing the giving of contributions or gift commitments by contributorsor prospective gift givers that involves dispersing through a crowd ofprospective contributors or gift givers a plurality of keyless,electronic contributions or gifts management devices for immediate entryof consecutive data comprising the identities of the contributors orgift givers making the monetary contribution commitments or monetarygift commitments.

Another known “charity” reference describes a method of capturingmonetary donations or monetary gifts made by donors or gift givers atpoints in time and space in which said donors or gift givers areoptimally motivated to make said donations or gifts, said donations orgifts being the donation or gift preferences of respective donors orgift givers. The method comprises inputting a multiplicity of sequencesof data comprised of monetary donations or monetary gifts. The monetarydonations or monetary gifts are made by a plurality of said respectivedonors or gift givers consecutively free of input of informationunrelated to said respective monetary donations or monetary gifts at amultiplicity of distinct sites where said donations and gifts are beingreceived.

Another known “non-ad” reference describes a central office thatcorrelates charitable contributions made at vending stations in foodservice establishments which issue information carriers in return forcharitable contributions which are receipts for the contribution andentitle the donor to a beverage dispensed from a machine responding tothe information carrier. Yet another known reference describes amultiplicity of charitable collection stations with selectors forchoosing the charity to which a contribution is destined, a change makerfor issuing change if desired, a display for displaying information withrespect to premiums available and contributions made, and a modem orother telecommunicator for two-way communications with a centralstation.

However, none of these known ways improves upon or streamlines thecreation, publishing, and development of ads, ad-books or relatedprint-jobs or publishing. In addition, none of these ways creates a newtool of a type of physical “Run” to fill out that simultaneously offersto or collects members or supporters billing information for an “ad” ormessage and the advertisements or messages, themselves, for automateddelivery to pre-print production or printing and financial informationor funds for direct deposit or to automatically issue accountingstatements such as billing, receipts or reports. Accordingly, a newmethod and system and tool or device for creating ad-books is needed.

Furthermore, there is no standardized method, system, tool, automatedform or device to provide such services to a plethora of groups,charities and not-for-profit organizations for fundraising ad-books orrelated print or publication, and more particularly, to standardizedcomputerized/automated preparation, production, publishing andmanagement. The lack of previously known methods to support a plethoraof organizations with ad-books is probably due to several key factorswhich are overcome by the proposed invention. First, there is apropensity for community groups to be insular and private and tojealously guard their membership information and the privacy of theirmembers. It is therefore only ironic that the use of ad-books provides arare event where such organizations permit, and even encourage a publicdisplay of members and supporters. An internet based system for ad-bookfundraising (as under the claimed invention) can provide customizableinterconnectivity as well as privacy protection for a plethora oforganizations based on the same methods and tools. Second,organizations, large and small, can rely upon volunteer efforts andvolunteered efforts, in which even a plethora of organizations, can besystematized using an internet based system. And, third, organizationsand groups all engage in similar fund-raising activities. Theirindividual identity and cause is “their heart and sole” and thus theystrongly self-associate and do not share methods or tactics. But theadvent of the internet has provided a unique platform for even far-flungorganizations to use universally accepted methods and techniques underthe claimed invention. And the flexibility of the invention, coupledwith the internet delivery system and methods to personalize thedelivery of forms and facades can allow widely differing groups toengage in the nearly identical fund-raising ad-book, print andpublication techniques showing their own “front-end” to members andsupporters while the organizations benefit from the similar methodssystems, tools, automated form or device to provide such service ascomputerized/automated preparation, production, publishing andmanagement by the “back-end” provided by the invention and for sharedfractions of the cost spread over numerous groups, large and small.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus and forms are provided for preparing ad-booksover a communications network. The method includes preparing anadvertisement or message at a user terminal connected to thecommunications network and using a form or format that facilitates thetransactions. The method further includes processing the advertisementor message at a server connected to the communications network forplacing the advertisement or message in an “ad-book” or related printingor publication.

As a more specific example, a method and apparatus are provided forpreparing an ad-book, print or publication for one of a plurality ofcharity or not-for-profit organizations. The method includes the stepsof a member or supporter of the charity or not-for-profit organizationaccessing a website of the one of the plurality of charity ornot-for-profit organizations and downloading a webpage from the website,the member or supporter activating a hyperlink on the webpage todownload an interactive “ad-book” ad, message or contribution form ofthe charity or not-for-profit organization linked to a third-party“ad-book” print or publication manager and preparer, the member orsupporter preparing an “ad” or message for inclusion within the ad-book,print or publication using the interactive contribution form and thethird-party “ad-book” manager and preparer preparing and publishing thead-book, print or publication with the prepared “ad” or message of themember or supporter on behalf of the organization.

One thing that all of these “ad-books” and related print andpublications have in common is a “request for information” for placingads from its members and supporters. Though each “request forinformation” is different, when compared among many, there are strikingsimilarities and significant differences. This invention seeks toreconcile the similarities and overcome the differences with a technicalsolution heretofore not available or contemplated, other than asdescribed herein.

The similarities of the “requests for information” include basic contactinformation of the member, supporter or “advertiser” such as name,address, phone, and the fact that they wish to participate in the“ad-book”. An example of consistent, though not identical information,common among ad-books requests among differing organizations forad-books or similar print or publications is the pricing or levels ofgiving, size and method of conveying the “ad” or message and the methodsof payment. An example of information that is unique to eachorganization's “ad-book” request would be the organizations name, logo,contact information and mailing address.

To the best of our knowledge there is no standard “ad-book” request forinformation format nor is there any particular request for informationused by any two groups. Each group seems to, simply enough, come up withtheir own format. Though “ad-book” requests for information may besimilar, or even plagiarized from one group to another or adapted fromlocal printers there is no common rule or tool to guide this verycloistered, parochial and private “industry”.

Illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a common format usingunique computer technology, automated form-making technology and theinternet, which, together combine the common elements, make moreflexible and responsive the similar elements and simply drop-in thefeatures unique to each group or organization from a data-base ofdigital information kept for each individual group from the plethora ofgroups and organizations.

Historically, each organization had to process the requests forinformation using paper requests for information and had to do twoadditional key elements by hand in addition to handling and processingthe form. The two key additional elements are the money deposit andaccounting and the processing of the content and layout of the “ad” ormessage to prepare for printing or delivery to the printer. Typicalrequests for ads require the member or supporter who is placing an “ad”or message to attach or enclose payment, requiring separate processingby the Organization and or the organization's financial institution.Such processing included depositing payments, accounting, issuingbilling or receipts in each instance and overall budgeting for themanagement, budgeting and tracking of the success of the total campaign.

Typical forms require the member or supporter placing an “ad” or messageto attach or enclose the “ad” or message copy, camera-ready art,business card, photo or text with the faun, requiring separateprocessing by the organization or its vendors. Such processing typicallyrequires graphic design, pre-print layout, pagination and other print orpublishing typical of ad-books or other related print or publishingjobs.

The invention provides a common form with the help of computertechnology, form-making technology and the internet, which, together canmake common the diverse elements of processing and take similar elementsof processing of “ad-book” from each individual group and combine themwith consolidated service providers in order to achieve economies ofscale and efficiency without unreasonably reducing the unique identityor appeal of each organization or their cause. For instance, through arelatively common automated format the member or supporter can createtheir own ad, including graphic design and images (thus eliminating muchof the pre-print-production costs of a 3^(rd) party graphic designer formany ads or messages). An automated “ad-book” format can automaticallysend funds, receipts or billing information or deposit funds directlyinto the organization's financial institution or provide accounting andtrack progress of the fund-raising efforts, or send automatic reminderor renewal notices. By combining accounting with pre-print layout, sucha system can use automation and computer-driven rules to allowconsistent and well regulated pagination so that more generous“full-page” ads are grouped in order and less expensive business cardsized ads are grouped together.

Many other features and benefits are reasonably expected from thisinvention, e.g. automated renewal notices, multi-year “ad” placement,standardized yet flexible formats for data, ad/message contentmanagement, standardized “ad-book” features such as stock-sizes, covers,sizes, colors, table of contents formats, affinity group content, andcelebrity endorsement; consolidated printing and print work bidding,consolidated advertising and account management, cross-ad-bookadvertising and demographic specific publication, automated up-sellingtechniques, frequency reminders, on-line publishing and directoryservices, lock-box collection, services and specialized accounting,reporting and receipts, which are typical of not-for-profit andpolitical organizations. The use of a common or typical format forsoliciting or the use of an electronic form such as can be conveyed overthe internet offers many advantages such as saving postage, e-mailinglarger pools of members and supporters, electronic processing ofelectronic forms, including graphic design features foron-line/on-the-fly graphic design of “ad-book” ads or messages andon-line payment.

Other embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent to one with skill in the art of both organizations who rely on“ad-books” and similar print or publications for fund-raising as well asprinters and graphic designers who have traditionally helped compile andpublish such ad-books and related print publications and who may alsobenefit from more organized and automated pre-print production anddelivery by organizations.

Other embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the followingfigures and detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional embodiments, features, and advantages be included within thisdescription, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected bythe accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views.

FIG. 1 depicts an “ad-book” preparation system in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example user terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example “ad-book” server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart for creating ad-books using the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 a-b depicts an example advertisement selection form of the systemof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic of processors of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an advertisement book (used herein as“ad-book), print and publication preparation system 10 shown generallyin accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6depicts an overall connection diagram of the software modules used toimplement the system 10 of FIG. 1.

The system 10 may include a number of hosts 50, 52 operated by a charityor not-for-profit organizations and a third-party “ad-book” server 6.Each of the charity or not-for-profit hosts 50, 52 may support one ormore websites 54, 56 for the benefit of the members and supporters ofthe charity or not-for-profit organization. Members and supporters ofeach of the charity or not-for-profit organizations may access therespective websites 54, 56 and make contributions to the charity andnot-for-profit organization through a respective terminal 2, 4 of themember or supporter.

Upon accessing the websites 54, 56 of the respective charity ornot-for-profit organization, the members and supporters 2, 4 maydownload one or more web pages 58 from the respective websites 50, 52 ofthe charities or not-for-profit organizations. Located on the web pages58 may be a number of windows 60 with descriptive information (e.g.,mission statements, operational objectives and achievements, donationinstructions, etc.) about the charity or not-for-profit organization.

Also located on the web pages 58 may be a softkey 62 entitled MAKECONTRIBUTION.” Activation of the softkey 62 activates a subroutine 64downloaded with the webpage 58. Activation of the subroutine 64 causesthe subroutine to activate a hyperlink 68 that sends a message to the“ad-book” server 6. Included within the message is a request for acontribution form 100 and an identifier of the host 50, 52 (i.e., anidentifier of charity or not-for-profit organization) from which therequest originated.

Within the third-party server 6, a request processor 70 may receive andprocess the request. As a first step, the processor 70 may retrieve theidentifier of the charity or not-for-profit organization to access afile 72 of the charity or not-for-profit organization and retrieve a setof contribution parameters 74. With the contribution parameters, therequest processor 70 may construct an interactive contribution form 100(FIGS. 5 a-b).

As a first step in the construction of the contribution form 100, therequest. processor 70 may insert a name of the charity or not-for-profitorganization in a display area 102 within the form. The requestprocessor 70 may also insert a set of names 104 of customized levels ofsponsorship of the charity or not-for-profit organization. As a finalstep, the request processor 70 may also attach a processing subroutine76 to the form 100 and download the form 100 and attached subroutine 76to the member or supporter 2, 4.

Alternatively, the form 100 may be pre-constructed and saved as afeature within each web page 58. In this case, the form 100 would bedownloaded with the web page 58 from the website 54, 56 whenever amember or supporter 2, 4 visits the website 54, 56, although the size ofthe file (i.e., the form 100) would slow the downloading of the web page58.

In general, a member or supporter of the charity or not-for-profitorganization may use a user terminal 2, 4 to prepare an advertisement tobe placed in an ad-book. An “ad-book” server 6 receives advertisementdata via the form 100 from a user terminal 2, 4 via a communicationsnetwork 8. In an illustrative embodiment, communications network 8functions to carry information between the user terminals 2, 4 and the“ad-book” server 6 to facilitate the creation of ad-books. Thecommunications network 8 may include circuit switched telephony as usedin public switch telephone networks (PSTN) or data packet networksadhering to Internet Protocol (IP), frame relay, or AsynchronousTransfer Mode (ATM) protocols. In an illustrative embodiment,communications network 8 provides IP communication for user terminal 2,4 and “ad-book” server 6.

As used herein, an advertiser includes members and supporters of anorganization, e.g. charity, school, team, association, club,professional organization, lodge, union, board, fraternity, sisterhood,cause, hospital, home, condo-board, synagogue, event, community group,political party candidate, and volunteers and staff of the organization.For example, a local hardware store may be an advertiser since it maydesire to support the local community group. Further, the advertiser mayinclude representatives and agents of the members and supporters. Forexample, a marketing manager or a secretary for the marketing managermay be termed an “advertiser” for purposes of this application. Furtheryet, volunteers or members of the organization may serve as advertisers.For example, a local bakery may desire that the volunteers of thesynagogue put together the advertisement on the bakery's behalf.

The user terminal 2, 4 functions to provide an interactive inputapparatus for the creation of advertisements to be placed in ad-books.As used herein, the term “advertisement” in the context of an “ad-book”,print or publication for a charity or not-for-profit organizationincludes announcements, statements, proclamations, public statements,posters, billboards, public notices, classified ads, want ads,commercials, flyers, brochures, and other information to be disseminatedto the public. The advertisement may includes graphics, simple text,images, video clips, audio clips, and audiovisual information.

An embodiment of the present invention may be employed and used inconjunction with any computer system, such as a personal computer, anotebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellulartelephone, or a mobile/wireless assistant or automatic teller machine(ATM) or automatic ticket dispenser. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, auser terminal 2, 4 may be a personal computer system including a monitor12, a keyboard 14, a mouse 16, random access memory (RAM), storage inthe form of a hard disk, a scanner 18, and network access 20 to thecommunications network 8. The personal computer may also include afloppy disk, a CD-ROM drive, read-only-memory, a modem, speakers, acamera, and a laser printer 22 as are well known in the art. In additionto a personal computer, the user terminal 2, 4 may be practiced using anetwork computer, a “dumb terminal” on a multi-user system, or anInternet or intranet computer, in which software is resident on theInternet or intranet, rather than stored on a hard disk on a personalcomputer. Further, the user terminal 2, 4 may either operate in astand-alone mode or over a network.

The user terminal 2, 4 may be provisioned with computer operatingsoftware currently available on a number of platforms, such as MicrosoftWindows, Apple MacOS and Sun Solaris. The computer system may be runningWindows 98, Windows NT, or equivalent, Palm OS, WindowsCE, or equivalentor an operating system used on Apple or Sun Computers. An embodiment ofthe present invention is not limited to a particular operating system orcomputer system to function.

The user terminal 2, 4 allows an advertiser to prepare an advertisementby using the computer (as shown in FIG. 2) to display and edit a desiredadvertisement. A desired advertisement 44 is shown in FIG. 1 as it wouldbe displayed on the monitor 12 of the user terminal 2. The user terminal2, 4 may be provisioned with computer software currently available forthe preparation of the advertisement or simple content. Computersoftware, such as Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe PhotoShopmay be suitable for the preparation of a desired advertisement. Further,the user terminal 2, 4 may be used to connect with the “ad-book” server6 to transmit the desired advertisement to the “ad-book” server 6 to beprinted on a printer or to be formatted for display as an electronicad-book.

In this context, the member or supporter may use the contribution form100 in conjunction with the software to prepare the advertisement. Theadvertisement 44 may be created by the member or supporter and saved asa separate file 78 under an appropriate format (e.g., pdf) on the userterminal 2, 4.

The member or supporter may then access the contribution form 100 tosubmit the advertisement. For example, after adding identificationinformation of the member or supporter in a first area 106 of the form100, the member or user may activate a BROWSER softkey 108. Activationof the softkey 108 allows the member or supporter to view and identifyone or more graphics and/or text files 78 within a window 107 forinclusion within the ad. Selection of the file 78 causes an image of thefile to displayed in a window 109. The member or supporter may add textwithin another window 112 to create the finished ad 44. Alternatively,the member or supporter may enter an IP address within a window 113 ofthe file 44 that identifies a path through the communication system 8through which the file 44 may be retrieved. Once the files have beenidentified, the member or supporter may activate an UPLOAD softkey 110.

The “ad-book” server 6 may function to perform processing for thecreation of ad-books. It may provide user terminals 2, 4 with theability to enter prepared content or advertisements or to prepare anadvertisement for an ad-book via the electronic form 100. An embodimentof the “ad-book” server 6 may be employed and used in conjunction withany computer system, such as a personal desktop computer. For example,as shown in FIG. 3, an “ad-book” server 6 includes a web server systemmay include a monitor 26, a keyboard 30, a mouse 28, a processing unit24, and network access 35 with a firewall 34 to the communicationsnetwork 10. The web server may also include a floppy disk, a CD-ROMdrive, read-only-memory, a modem, speakers, a camera, a zip drive and alaser printer 32 as are well known in the art. Optionally, the “ad-book”server may include a database for managing ad-books, user terminals 2,4, advertisers, and advertisements.

The “ad-book” server 6 may be provisioned with computer operatingsoftware currently available on a number of platforms, such as MicrosoftWindows, Apple MacOS and Sun Solaris. The computer system may be runningWindows 98, Windows NT, or equivalent, Palm OS, WindowsCE, or equivalentor an operating system used on Apple or Sun Computers.

For example, once a form 100 is received, a consolidation processor 80may receive the advertisement 44 and incorporate the advertisement 44into the “ad-book”, print or publication 48. If the form 100 is thefirst advertisement 44 received, then the advertisement 44 would simplybe added to the file. If the advertisement 44 where one of many, thenthe advertisement 44 may be prioritized within the “ad-book, print orpublication 48. For example, a member or supporter who submits anadvertisement as a Gold Sponsor 104 may be inserted at a beginning ofthe “ad-book”, print or publication. A Standard Sponsor may be relegatedto an end of the “ad-book”, print or publication.

Similarly, the consolidation processor 80 may assembly advertisements 44based upon size. In this case, advertisement that occupy a full pagewould simply be appended based upon priority. One-half pageadvertisements 44 would be consolidated with another one-half pageadvertisements 44 or two one-fourth page advertisements 44.

In another illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the“ad-book” server 6 may be programmed as a web server adhering to theActive Server Pages specification to generate web pages for display onthe user terminals 2, 4. An embodiment of the present invention is notlimited to a particular operating system or computer system to function.

In operation, an embodiment of the present invention functions to allowadvertisers at user terminals 2, 4 to produce advertisements forad-books without the necessity of first accessing any website 54, 56 ofa charity or not-for-profit organization. FIG. 4 is a flowchartillustrating an example flow of the functions performed by the “ad-book”server 6 in creating ad-books. Advertisers at user terminals 2, 4 mayconnect to a website 82 of the “ad-book” server 6 by accessing theInternet via the communications network 8 and entering a URL addressrelating to the “ad-book” server 6. An advertiser at a user terminal 2,4 may register (see Block 36) with the “ad-book” server by enteringinformation related to the ad-book, the organization, and theadvertiser. With regard to the charity or not-for-profit organization,the member or supporter may activate a BROWSE softkey 114 and a list ofcharities or not-for-profit organizations registered with the server 6may be displayed within a window 102. The member or supporter may selectthe charity or not-for-profit organization and activate the SELECTsoftkey 116.

The advertiser may enter the business name, address, and telephonenumber in a first text area 106. The advertiser at a user terminal 2, 4may prepare an advertisement (see Block 38) by a number of differentmethods including by downloading an advertisement that has beenpreviously prepared, filling in one of several standard forms, andcomposing an advertisement at the “ad-book” server 6 (see block 38).Downloading may include transmitting the previously preparedadvertisement or standard form from the user terminal 2, 4 to the“ad-book” server 6 through the communications network 8. An advertisermay directly create an advertisement using applications software such asMicrosoft Word, Corel PageMaker and Adobe PhotoShop. As mentioned, anexample advertisement 44 prepared on the user terminal 2 and viewed onthe monitor 12 of the user terminal 2 is shown in FIG. 1.

Alternatively, an advertisement may be composed at the “ad-book” server6 by selecting choices relating to the advertisement including desiredsize, cost/fee, message, layout, and background from a web-basedadvertisement preparation tool. The web-based advertisement preparationtool may be executed at “ad-book” server 6 and may present choicesrelating to advertisement size, placement, cost/fee, layout, backgroundand text to the user terminals 2, 4. For example, desired messagesavailable for selection may include “Congratulations!” “Good Luck on theFundraising,” and “We Support You!” Further, messages may be personal orpersonalized so that the advertiser may input personal information suchas a name. For example, personalized messages available for selectioninclude “From Your Friends at ______”, or “With Love From ______”. Yetother messages may provide or allow for matching corporate giving. Forexample, an individual's “ad” or message which would include an approved“matching funds and support provided by ______ Corporation”.

Advertisement preparation (see Block 38) also includes selecting one ofa number of desired backgrounds by using an input apparatus, such asmouse 16 on the user terminal 2, 4, to select among multiple backgroundpatterns being displayed. Choices may include regular and premiumplacement. For example, an advertiser may choose the “Gold” backgroundat a higher cost to show their higher degree of support for theorganization. Advertisement preparation (see Block 38) may also includeselecting font, font size, and color as is known in the art. Forexample, an advertiser may choose to have white letters in an Ariel fontsize of 14. Other variations of advertisement preparation are known inthe publishing art and will not be further described herein.

Further, it may be possible to select an advertisement theme so that thenumber of choices that an advertiser has to make in order to compose anadvertisement is reduced. For example, a predefined advertisement themesuch as “Formal,” “Sponsor,” “Endower,” or “President's Level” maydefine a message, layout, background and lettering font or size.Further, the cost associated with predefined advertisement themes maycommensurate with various levels of giving. Further, an advertiser mayinput multimedia comprising graphics, logos, images, video clips, audioclips and audiovisual to the advertisement. For example, a photographinput by use of a camera (not illustrated in FIG. 2) may be used as partof the advertisement. If an advertiser wishes to use a previouslydesigned advertisement or image, or revise a past ad or image, then theadvertiser may select an image or prepared advertisement from a list ofimages or prepared advertisements or from an archive of images or pastads 84 which may be stored at the “ad-book” server 6. The “ad-book”server 6 may maintain archives classified according to a criterion, e.g.organization's name, organization's type, advertiser's name. Once theadvertisement has been prepared, it may be displayed to the advertiserso that further changes or editing may be made or for finalproof-reading and approval. Shown in FIG. 1 is an example advertisement46 prepared by selecting choices from the “ad-book” server 6 and shownon the monitor of the user terminal 4.

The “ad-book” server 6 may also generate messages to the user terminal4. Messages that may be generated include suggesting modifications to anad, reminding an advertiser to “up-sell” or renew, informing theadvertiser of potential “ad-books”, prints and publications to advertisein, and promoting an advertiser to re-run an ad. The “ad-book” server 6may use up-selling sales techniques and user history or demographicinformation to suggest specialty “ad” placement. For example, the server6 may maintain a database of user history or demographic information and“ad-book” characteristics that may be analyzed to form recommendationsregarding potential advertiser interest or history of giving or placingpast “ads” or messages. For example, the server 6 may suggest that anadvertiser place an “ad” on a particular date in an “ad-book” calendaror the server 6 may suggest that an advertiser place an “ad” alongsidespecific members.

Data processing occurs as advertisement preparation is completed (seeblock 40). Since many advertisements and many ad-books may be processedat the “ad-book” server 6, data processing includes classifying eachadvertisement received into individual ad-books (or multiple ad-books ifso desired). For example, Bob's Garage may prepare and transfer anadvertisement showing its support for the local girls' softball team tothe “ad-book” server 6. The “ad-book” server 6 may classify theadvertisement for inclusion in the softball team ad-book. Yet anotherexample, a Chicago-area fast food restaurant may support several causesand wish to be included in many different ad-books. “ad-book” server 6may classify the fast food restaurant advertisement for a homelesssociety ad-book, a legal clinic “ad-book” and a church affiliatedad-books.

An embodiment of this invention allows one advertiser to support manyorganizations. For example, a regional or national advertiser wishing tosupport all such organizations that meet the advertiser's demographic,advertising or sponsorship criteria or corporate philosophy maydesignate its support by selecting all relevant ad-books for allrelevant organizations. In a more specific example, a major cosmeticcompany may wish to support women's organizations, including girl'ssports teams, women's health issues, and women's charities within itsmajor markets. In yet another example, a major sporting goods suppliermay wish to sponsor all youth sport teams or just those in a particularsport. Being able to support many organizations is a benefit of anembodiment of this invention. Pooling support for various organizationstogether provides efficiency in securing advertisements from anadvertiser or advertisers which no one organization could reach and nosuch advertising campaign could reach so many organizations. Further,pooling support from advertisers, through this invention, allows eachadvertiser to efficiently offer support to many organizations and allowseach organization to discreetly and confidentially accept or reject suchsupport as could be dictated by the consensus of the organization (sinceit is implied that organizations have a conscience where as for-profitpublications would accept any decent paying ad). Thus, both advertisersand organizations benefit from using an embodiment of this invention ifsuccessfully deployed to a plethora of advertisers and a plethora oforganizations.

In an alternate embodiment, data processing (see Block 40) includes thestep of processing a mode of payment for placing the advertisement in anad-book. For example, an advertiser may enter an advertiser's creditcard number in a payment area 118 and request that the bill be chargedto the credit card. The mode of payment may also include direct bankdrafts, a request to be billed, or, as is unique to not-for-profit andcharity organizations a “pledge” for future payment or payments overtime. Alternatively, a secure payment provider may be selected 122. Onceselecting a payment method, the member or supporter may activate aSUBMIT softkey 124 to complete the process or simply print theinformation for hand-delivery or mailing.

The “ad-book” server 6 may process the payment information to theorganization and or send a follow up receipt for tax purposes or billingfor payment or reminders for payment of a “pledge”. Further, the“ad-book” server 6 may consolidate payment and advertisement informationfor the advertiser and or the organization. In such a manner, anembodiment of this invention provides assistance with specialized taxissues which many not-for-profit organizations face.

Data processing (see Block 40) may also include sending anacknowledgement to the advertiser at user terminal 2, 4 that preparedthe advertisement. The acknowledgement may include transmitting anelectronic mail (email) to the advertiser thanking the advertiser forits support. The email may also include specialized accountinginformation so as to aid with the specialized tax issues mentionedabove. The acknowledgement may also include sending a postal mail to ortelephoning the advertiser. Further, data processing (see Block 40) mayinclude sending the advertiser a copy of the advertisement as a proof orthat may be printed in the “ad-book” or forwarding a copy of an“ad-book” with the advertisement to the advertiser. In an alternativeembodiment, data processing (see Block 40) also includes translating theadvertisement into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format so that theadvertisement may be viewed from user terminals 2, 4 connected to theInternet. Where advertisements may be viewed from user terminals 2, 4,the term publishing is used to describe the ability of users at userterminals 2, 4 to view an ad-book. Where advertisement may be viewedfrom user terminals 2, 4, ad-books may or may not be printed in physicalform. Further yet, data processing (see Block 40) may also includemanaging advertisements and ad-books so that advertisers may includelinks to preferred web-sites. For example, a hardware advertiser mayinclude a hypertext link to its home page on the Internet. Further, dataprocessing (see Block 40) may also include the step of deleting oldadvertisements, advertisements not paid for, and old ad-books in the“ad-book” server 6.

In an alternative embodiment, password protection for the advertisementsand ad-books may be available to provide security and limit access tothe advertisements and the ad-books. Further, a firewall 34 may beincluded for the “ad-book” server 6 so as to provide security and limitaccess to the advertisements and the ad-books.

Returning to FIG. 4, advertisement output (see block 42) functions tocreate ad-books that are distributed by an organization to raise money.This may include printing out a typeset copy of an “ad-book” on thelaser printer 32 of the “ad-book” server 6 or it may include sending anelectronic copy of the “ad-book” to a print shop so that a large numberof copies may be printed on a printing press or, further, to be bound.In an alternative embodiment, advertisement output (see Block 42) alsoincludes displaying advertisements and-ad-books to the user terminals 2,4. Further, electronic versions of the advertisements and ad-books maybe viewed by users connecting to the “ad-book” server 6 throughcommunications network 10. In one embodiment, user terminals 2, 4 mayview an electronic “ad-book” that has HTML versions of theadvertisements.

An embodiment of the present invention may be provided as software,which may be loaded from floppy disks, from a CD-ROM, over a network, orfrom any other suitable storage media. The software may be loaded ontothe hard disk drive of a computer in a manner that is known to thoseskilled in the art.

FIG. 6 depicts a schematic 200 of the software processors operatingwithin the system of FIG. 1. As shown, members and supporters maycontact a host 50, 52 of the charity or not-for-profit organizationsover a first set of connections 202, 204 through the Internet 8. Thehost 50, 52 may provide links 206 to any of a number of differentwebsites 208 of different charity or not-for-profit groups.

The websites 208 may include the processor 210 with the functionality ofthe server 6 or provide hyperlinks 206, 204, 216 to a separate server 6.Where the processor 210 contains the functionality of the server 6, thenthe processor may down load the form 100 to the member or supporter andthe member or supporter may create the advertisement using an internalprocessor 232.

Alternatively, the member or supporter may use the services of aconsultant to prepare the advertisement 44 and reference the graphicsfor retrieval via a IP address 113. In this case, the member orsupporter may create a graphics file within a first processor 232 andtransfer the file to a processor 234 that converts the file to a formatsuitable for the “ad-book, print or publication. Another processor 236may divide the file into first and second forms for on-line and printedformats. Still another processor 238 may perform further graphicsadjustments (e.g., add margins, color, etc.) for approval by the memberor supporter. Another processor 240 may add text or make other finaladjustments.

The advertisement 44 within the form 100 may be received from the memberor supporter through links 202, 204, 206. The “ad-book”, print orpublication may be sent to an in-house printer 212 or sent to a thirdparty printer 214 through links 206, 204, 218. Where the advertisement44 is retrieved through the IP address 113, retrieval of theadvertisement may be through links 204, 206, 242, 244 or 246.

Where processor 210 prepares the “ad-book”, print or publication,payment may be obtained via a credit card 220 or bank 222 via links 206,204, 224, 226. Alternatively, the member or supporter 2, 4 may arrangefor payment directly via a processor 228 and links 202 224, 226, 230.

In other embodiments, the server 6 may be operated by a third party. Thethird party may maintain a database 248 of previous advertisements frommembers and supporters of charities and not-for-profit organizations.The third party may also maintain its own accounting system 250 forcollecting donations from members or supporters of client charities andnot-for-profit organizations.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A method for preparing ad-books, or relatedprinting or publication, such method comprising: preparing anadvertisement by selecting choices relating to the “ad” or message at auser terminal connected to a communications network; receiving theprepared “ad” or message at the server connected to the communicationsnetwork; classifying the prepared “ad” or message into at least onead-book; and converting the prepared “ad” or message into an “ad” ormessage to be placed into an ad-book, printed or published.
 29. A systemfor preparing charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books or relatedprint or publication used by a recognized not-for-profit organization,such system comprising: a website of the recognized not-for-profitorganization operable to download a webpage to a terminal of a supporterof the not-for-profit organization through a communication network; thedownloaded webpage containing a contribution softkey that can beactivated by a supporter; a charity or not-for-profit organizationserver that downloads a form to the supporter in response to theactivated softkey; the charity or not-for-profit organization serveroperable to populate the faun with a name of the not-for-profitorganization and with a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship ofthe not-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of theplurality of selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate with arespective monetary contribution from the supporter to thenot-for-profit organization; means within the user terminal connected tothe communications network for preparing a message and for selecting oneof the selectable levels of sponsorship and monetary contribution; andmeans within the charity or not-for-profit organization server connectedto the communications network for processing the message and for placingthe message in the charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book, printor publication.
 30. The system of claim 29 wherein the means forpreparing further comprises means for selecting choices relating to themessage.
 31. The system of claim 30 wherein choices comprises message,size, price, placement, background or layout.
 32. The system of claim 30wherein choices comprises indicating whether the message shall beprinted in a physical charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book.33. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for preparing furthercomprises means for selecting message type, price or theme to reduce thenumber of choices that user must make to produce message.
 34. The systemof claim 29 wherein the communications network comprises a public switchtelephone network and packet data network.
 35. The system of claim 29wherein the user terminal comprises a computer system.
 36. The system ofclaim 35 wherein the computer system comprises one of a personalcomputer, notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), acellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant.
 37. The system ofclaim 29 wherein the server comprises a web server computer system foraccessing the communications network.
 38. The system of claim 37 whereinthe web server comprises a firewall for maintaining security.
 39. Themethod of claim 38 wherein the firewall limits access to information onthe server wherein information comprises the messages and the charity ornot-for-profit organization ad-books.
 40. The system of claim 29 whereinthe means for preparing further comprises means for using computersoftware to create a message in support of the non-for-profitorganization.
 41. The system of claim 40 wherein the computer softwarecomprises at least one of Microsoft Office, Corel PageMaker and AdobePhotoShop.
 42. The system of claim 29 wherein the means for processingfurther comprises receiving payment at the server for processing themessage for placement in a charity or not-for-profit organizationad-book.
 43. The system of claim 29 further comprising means forconverting the message into an HTML message to be shown on at least oneuser terminal.
 44. The system of claim 43 wherein the HTML format is apart of an electronic charity or not-for-profit organization ad-book.45. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for sending a copyof the HTML message to an user whom initiated the message preparation.46. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for registering withthe server whereby a user at the user terminal connects to the serverand enters information relating to the user.
 47. The system of claim 29further comprising means for receiving the message from a user.
 48. Thesystem of claim 47 further comprising means for sending anacknowledgement to the user notifying the user of the receipt of themessage.
 49. The system of claim 47 further comprising means for sendingan acknowledgement to the user notifying the user of paymentinformation.
 50. A system for preparing charity or not-for-profitorganization ad-books over the Internet, such system comprising: awebsite of the recognized not-for-profit organization operable todownload a webpage to a terminal of a supporter of the not-for-profitorganization through a communication network; a contribution softkey onthe downloaded webpage the contribution softkey can be activated by thesupporter; a charity or not-for-profit organization server operable todownload a contribution form webpage to the supporter in response toactivation of the contribution softkey where the server populates thecontribution webpage with a name of the not-for-profit organization andwith a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of thenot-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of theplurality of selectable levels of sponsorship is commensurate with arespective monetary contribution from the supporter to thenot-for-profit organization; the terminal coupled to the communicationsnetwork operable to receive a selection of one of the plurality ofselectable levels of sponsorship and data from the supporter through thecontribution form webpage to prepare a message in support of thenon-for-profit organization; and the charity or not-for-profitorganization server connected to the communications network thatreceives the prepared message.
 51. The system of claim 50 wherein thecomputer system further comprises a graphical user interface forselecting choices relating to the message.
 52. The system of claim 51wherein choices comprises message, size, placement, color, price,background, or layout.
 53. The system of claim 50 wherein the charity ornot-for-profit organization “ad-book” server presents choices relatingto message type or message theme to the computer system.
 54. The systemof claim 50 wherein the communications network comprises a public switchtelephone network and packet data network.
 55. The system of claim 50wherein the computer system further comprises one of a personalcomputer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), acellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant.
 56. The system ofclaim 50 wherein the charity or not-for-profit organization “ad-book”server further comprises a web server computer system capable ofinterfacing with the Internet.
 57. The system of claim 50 wherein thecomputer system further comprises at least one of Microsoft Office,Corel PageMaker, and Adobe PhotoShop.
 58. The system of claim 50 whereinthe charity or not-for-profit organization “ad-book” server furthercomprises a database of at least one of messages, ad-books, and users.59. A method for preparing an ad-book, print or publication for one of aplurality of charity or not-for-profit organizations: a member orsupporter of the charity or not-for-profit organization accessing awebsite or e-mail of the one of the plurality of charity ornot-for-profit organizations or 3rd party provider of such website anddownloading an interactive e-mail or webpage from the website; themember of supporter activating a hyperlink on the webpage or interactivee-mail to download an interactive contribution format of the charity ornot-for-profit organization or from a third-party “ad-book” preparer;the member or supporter preparing an “ad” or message for inclusionwithin the ad-book, print or publication using the interactivecontribution format; and the third-party “ad-book” preparer preparing ordistributing the ad-book, related print or publication with the prepared“ad” or message of the member or supporter.
 60. The method of claim 59wherein preparing further comprises selecting choices relating to theadvertisement or message.
 61. The method of claim 60 wherein choicescomprises advertisement or message, size, placement, color, font, logo,image, price, background or layout.
 62. The method of claim 60 whereinchoices comprises indicating whether the advertisement or message shallbe printed in a physical “ad-book” or similar print publication orposted on-line in a virtual “ad-book” or similar internet publication orboth physically printer and posted on-line, where the advertisement ormessage is simply rendered “anonymous”
 63. The method of claim 59wherein preparing further comprises selecting an advertisement ormessage type or theme to reduce the number of choices that anadvertiser, member or sponsor must make to produce an advertisement. 64.The method of claim 59 wherein the communications network comprises apublic switch telephone network and packet data network.
 65. The methodof claim 59 wherein the user terminal comprises a computer system. 66.The method of claim 65 wherein the computer system comprises one of apersonal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone or a mobile/wireless assistant.
 67. Themethod of claim 59 wherein the server comprises a web server computersystem for accessing the communications network.
 68. The method of claim67 wherein the web server comprises a firewall for maintaining securityincluding security from outside access to the system and security withinthe system between various clients, organizations, members, advertisers,supporters, lists and accounts.
 69. The method of claim 68 wherein thefirewall limits access to information on the server wherein informationcomprises the advertisements and messages and the ad-books and theorganizations and the advertisers and the members and the supporters andthe lists and accounts.
 70. The method of claim 59 wherein preparingfurther comprises using computer software running at the user terminalto create an advertisement or message.
 71. The method of claim 70wherein the computer software comprises at least one of Microsoft Wordor Office, Corel PageMaker and Adobe Acrobat or PhotoShop or then mostcurrent and or appropriate commercially available software applicablefor the related fields of this invention.
 72. The method of claim 59wherein processing further comprises receiving payment for processingthe advertisement or message for placement in an “ad-book” or relatedprint or publication.
 73. The method of claim 59 wherein processingfurther comprises: receiving the advertisement or message at the serverfrom the user terminal; storing the advertisement at the server; andconverting the received advertisement into an advertisement to be placedinto one or a plethora of “ad-books” or related print or publication anddifferentiating ads or messages for placement by category or criteria oraffinity grouping.
 74. The method of claim 73 further comprisingreceiving payment at the server for processing the advertisement forplacement in an “ad-book” or related print or publication and allocatingpayment to one or among a plethora of organizations into which theadvertisement or message is placed based on allocation criteria.
 75. Themethod of claim 73 further comprising classifying the received “ad” ormessage into an “ad-book” category.
 76. The method of claim 73 furthercomprising using techniques, the techniques comprising statistics anddemographics, to discern at least one group of related ads or messagesamong or between a plethora of organizations.
 77. The method of claim 73further comprising using techniques, the techniques comprisingstatistics and demographics, to discern at least one organization or agroup of related organizations of a plethora of organizations.
 78. Themethod of claim 73 further comprising using techniques, the techniquescomprising statistics and demographics, to discern at least oneorganization of related organizations or related ad-book print orpublications.
 79. The method of claim 73 further comprising convertingthe received advertisement into an HTML advertisement to be shown on atleast one user terminal.
 80. The method of claim 79 wherein the HTML“ad” or message is a part of one or a plethora of electronic “ad-books”or related print publications or “ad-book” form for processing an “ad”or message.
 81. The method of claim 79 further comprising sending a copyof the HTML “ad” or message to an advertiser or organization or aplethora of organizations whom initiated or solicited the “ad” ormessage preparation.
 82. The method of claim 59 further comprisingregistering with the server whereby an advertiser at the user terminalconnects to the server and enters information relating to the advertiseror the organization or a plethora of organizations.
 83. The method ofclaim 59 further comprising entering a mode of payment at the userterminal to pay for the “ad” or message to be placed in “ad-books” orrelated print or publication.
 84. The method of claim 59 furthercomprising sending an acknowledgement to advertises, members orsupporters notifying the organization or organizations or advertisers ofthe receipt of the “ad” or message.
 85. The method of claim 59 furthercomprising sending acknowledgements to advertisers, members orsupporters notifying the members, supporters or advertisers of paymentinformation.
 86. A method for preparing ad-books, or related printing orpublication, for a plethora of organizations, such method comprising:preparing advertisements by selecting choices relating to the “ad” ormessage at a user terminal connected to a communications network;receiving the prepared “ads” or messages at the server connected to thecommunications network; classifying the prepared “ads” or messages intoat least one ad-book; and converting the prepared “ads” or messages intoan “ad” or message to be placed into one or more ad-books, printed orpublished.
 87. A method for preparing ad-book charity or not-for-profitorganization event-books, printing or publication used by a recognizednot-for-profit organization, such method comprising: a website for oneof a plurality of charity or recognized not-for-profit organizationsdownloading a webpage, from a plurality of web pages of the recognizednot-for-profit organization to a terminal of a supporter or potentialsupporter of the not-for-profit organization through a communicationnetwork; the supporter activating a softkey on the downloaded webpage; acharity or not-for-profit organization server or a third party on behalfof the charity or not-for-profit downloading a form to the supporter,the form being populated within the form with a name of thenot-for-profit organization and with a plurality of selectable levels ofadvertising or sponsorship of the not-for-profit organization; thesupporter completing the form by selecting or preparing an advertisementor message in support of the non-for-profit organization includingselecting one of the plurality of levels of sponsorship at the userterminal connected to the communications network; and a processor of thecharity or not-for-profit organization server connected to thecommunications network receiving the message through the communicationnetwork and processing the message placing the message in a charity ornot-for-profit organization ad-book or related print or publication. 88.The method of claim 87 wherein preparing further comprises selecting atleast one of a plurality of content choices relating to the message. 89.The method of claim 88 wherein choices comprises message, size,placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or layout. 90.The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message at theserver from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server andconverting the received message into a format to be placed into thead-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, toprovide suggested pricing or automate the population of pricing of agiven size of ad-message from at least one group of related groups. 91.The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message at theserver from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server andconverting the received message into a format to be placed into thead-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, todiscern at least one group of related users, members or supporters. 92.The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving the message at theserver from the user terminal, storing the messages at the server andconverting the received message into a format to be placed into thead-book using techniques including statistics and demographics, todiscern at least one group of related charity or not-for-profitorganization ad-books or related print or publications.
 93. The methodof claim 87 further comprising receiving the message at the server fromthe user terminal, storing the messages at the server and converting thereceived message into a format to be placed into the ad-book usingtechniques including converting the received message into an HTML formatto be shown on at least one user terminal.
 94. The method of claim 87further comprising sending an acknowledgement to an user, member orsupporter notifying the organization or user of the receipt of themessage.
 95. The method of claim 94 further comprising sending areminder message to inform a user of the receipt for the message suchthat the reminder message recognizes the tax-exempt status of the Groupor Not-For-Profit.
 96. The method of claim 95 further comprising sendinga message to inform a user such that the message recognizes one or thenumber of viewings of the ad-book of posted or published message of theusers message from among the posted messages of the group ornot-for-profit ad-book.
 97. The method of claim 87 further comprisingsending an acknowledgement to an user, member or supporter notifying themember, supporter or user of payment information.
 98. A method forpreparing charity or not-for-profit organization ad-books, printing orpublication used by a recognized not-for-profit organization, suchmethod comprising: a website of the recognized not-for-profitorganization downloading a webpage to a terminal of a supporter of thenot-for-profit organization through a communication network; the user,supporter or potential supporter activating a contribution softkey onthe downloaded webpage; a charity or not-for-profit organization serverdownloading a form to the supporter; the server populating the form witha name of the charity or not-for-profit organization information andwith a plurality of selectable levels of sponsorship of thenot-for-profit organization where a cost associated with each of theplurality of levels of sponsorship is commensurate with a publishing orfrequency of distribution of a message recognizing the respectivemonetary contribution from the supporter to the not-for-profitorganization; the supporter preparing a message in support of thenon-for-profit organization including selecting one of the plurality oflevels of sponsorship or frequency of distribution of the message andcontribution to the organization at the user terminal connected to thecommunications network for the subsequent publication, recognition ordistribution of the message at one of various levels of recognition; anda processor of the charity or not-for-profit organization serverconnected to the communications network delivering the message ofrecognition in exchange for contribution to the organization through thecommunication network and processing the message and publishing or,distributing or placing the message in a charity or not-for-profitorganization ad-book or distribution listing of similar messages ordistributions or related print or publication.
 99. The method of claim98 wherein preparing further comprises selecting choices relating to themessage.
 100. The method of claim 99 wherein choices comprises message,size, placement, color, font, logo, image, price, background or layout.